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DRESS SHIELD. No. 331,963. Patented Dec. 8 1886.

N PETERS, Phuibulhogmphlm Washingtnn. 5.1:.

-PATEN'l FFICEO DE WITT O. HALL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

DRESS-SHIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,963, dated December 8, 1885.

Application filed April 15, 1884.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DE VVITT G. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Dress Shields, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and accurate description.

The object of my invention is to do away with a disadvantage incident to the dressshields now in use. These shields are pr0- vided with a water-proof lining of rubber,

gutta-percha, or other similar water-proof material, which prevents the perspiration from the person penetrating the shield and soiling the dress; but the perspiration is liable, be ing repelled by the water-proof liningvto go down the lower flap of the shield beyond the limits of the flap, and thus reach the dress and wet and soil it.

My improvement prevents this entirely; and it consists in placing on the outside of the textile i'abric-that is, the side of the shield worn next to the person-or inserting between the outer textile material and the in ner water-proof lining of one or both of the flaps of the dressshield a segmental piece of absorbent inaterialsuch as felt or flannel extending around the lower edge of the flap an inch or an inch and a half deep, or of such depth as will be sure to take up thoroughly by absorption all possible dripping of accumulated perspiration under the arm.

I am aware thatprior to my invention absorbent material has been used in the form of a supplemental shield of flannel or the like placed over the top of the water-proof shield just under the arm; but this device rather increases the likelihood of profuse perspiration by giving added warmth and thickness directly at the armpit, whereas my ixn provement leaves that part of the shield light and cool, and places the absorbent material where it can catch and take up all dripping of the perspiration, without tending at the same time to increase it. Besides, my improve Serial No. 127,991. (No model.)

ment conduces to neatness in the appearance of the dress-shield, as well as to the comfort of the wearer, and to the protection of the dress.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved dress shield partly broken away. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical transverse sectional view of the sameshowing the absorbentfabric applied to both flaps of the shield. Fig. 3 isa similar view, showing the absorbent fabric applied to the inner or larger flap only; and Fig. 4 is also an enlarged sectional view of one of the shie d-flaps, showing the absorbent material applied to the outer surface of the teXtile or outer covering.

A represents the textile or outer covering of the flap of a dress shield, and B the waterrepellent or inner lining of the flap.

0 represents my improvement or the absorbent piece, which is placed about the lower edge of one or both the flaps and outside the textile fabric or between the outer textile fabric and the inner water-proof lining.

By means of my improvement dress-shields may be made as light and neat in appearance as any heretofore manufactured, and yet may serve to form, with only a very slight additional expense for the concealed absorbent material,a thorough protection against soiling the dress.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent, is

A dress-shield comprising a water-repellent lining and a textile fabric cover in each of the two flaps, provided at its lower edge upon one or both flaps with an absorbent fabric which does not reach to the line of the fold,whereby a light shield is secured, thin at the fold-line and absorbent at the lower edges of the flaps, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of April, 1884.

DE VVIT'T O. HALL.

Witnesses:

R. F. VAN BOSKERCK, CHARLES G. Con. 

